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#OTD June 24, 1875, in a joint ceremony between the City of Providence & the Freemasons of Rhode Island, the cornerstone of the Providence City Hall was laid. A time capsule was sealed that included city records, newspapers, & sheet music. #OnThisDay #RhodeIsland #History

#OTD June 24th, 1995, the inaugural X Games debuted in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island. Events included skateboarding, water ski jumping, BMX biking, and street luge. The games ended on July 1st. #OnThisDay #RhodeIsland #History

On June 25, 1799, the Newport Mercury ran three runaway slave ads. One, from Peregrine White, of Little Compton, for a "Woman, about 40 Years of Age, named SUKEY," was a repeat advertisement, indicating Sukey may have eluded capture for at least two weeks.

#OTD June 25, 1799, William Wilcox, of South Kingstown ran a runaway ad in the Newport Mercury for a "Man named SIMON, Six Feet high, a thickset well-built Fellow." He noted that Simon's "Eyes are rather red," he has "a Scar on the Calf of one of his Legs; about 38 Years of Age."

#OTD June 25, 1967, news crews from NBC 10 WJAR captured Raymond Patriarca, mafia boss of the Patriarca crime family, leaving the federal courthouse in Providence after being released on bail for murder. He later received 10 years. Here is footage from Rhode Island Historical Society film archives.

#OTD June 25, 2014, former Providence mayor (& twice-convicted) Buddy Cianci announced his intention to run for his former position. Had he won, it would have been his fifth term. Cianci died two years later, at the age of 74. #OnThisDay #RhodeIsland #History

#OTD June 26, 1788, the brig Washington, financed by Christopher Ellery, departed Newport for the Gold Coast, where captain William Gardner purchased 202 enslaved Africans for sale in Martinique. Ellery (house pictured) was elected RI's US Senator in 1800. #OnThisDay #RhodeIsland

#OTD June 26, 1976, RI's 1st Gay Pride Parade was held in Providence. Here is a clip from Rhode Island Historical Society film archives. Click the link for the full video, featuring Pat Conley declaring gay folks shouldn't participate in the bicentennial celebrations. m.youtube.com/watch?v=68xYv2…

#OTD June 27, 1760, the sloop Three Friends, financed by Simon Pease (pictured), returned to Newport harbor directly from Cape Coast Castle with 63 enslaved Africans. The Boston News-Letter reported "they lost but 6 slaves out of 69 they brought with them." #OnThisDay

On June 27, 1845, Thomas Dorr "the People's Martyr" was released after twenty months in prison. He had been sentenced for treason against the State of Rhode Island after an attempt to storm the capital in Providence in 1842. #OnThisDay #RhodeIsland #History

#OTD June 28, 1969, RITBA officially opened the Newport (now Pell) Bridge. It cost $61 million. Here is footage from Rhode Island Historical Society & NBC 10 WJAR of the opening ceremony, featuring former Governors Frank Licht and John Chafee. youtu.be/mcpvFcbS9yw

#OTD June 29, 1750, the ship Elizabeth, financed by John Channing & Walter Chaloner, & captained by James Cahoone, entered Newport Harbor from the coasts of Africa. It returned *directly* from Africa to Rhode Island 378 days later, with 110 enslaved "Men, Women, Boys and Girls."

#OTD June 29, 1877, while at a clambake at Rocky Point celebrating Civil War veterans, President Rutherford B. Hayes received the first presidential phone call from none other than Alexander Graham Bell, who called from the City Hotel in Providence, 13 miles away. #OnThisDay

#OTD June 30, 1872, the US Revenue Marine Bureau, a forerunner to the U.S. Coast Guard, announced Block Island as one of the first US Life-Saving Stations. Lifesaving stations acknowledged that lighthouses would not save all ships--shipwrecks would always occur. #OnThisDay

#OTD July 1, 1777, Revolutionary War Generals John Sullivan, Henry Knox, and Rhode Island's Nathanael Greene wrote to the Continental Congress expressing their concerns about alliances with the French military. Sullivan threatened to resign his commission.

#OTD July 2, 1960, an intoxicated mob of up to 12,000 young people seeking access to the sold-out Newport Jazz Fest, rioted through the streets of Newport. Governor Christopher Del Sesto called in RI State Police and RI National Guard. Almost 200 were arrested. #OnThisDay

#OTD July 2, 1960, as riots of several thousand people raged outside because they were refused entry, Ray Charles played the Newport Jazz Fest. Click here for footage of the full concert, featuring his hits "Let the Good Times Roll" and "What I'd Say." 👉🏻 youtu.be/hZaaTFQHNAY

#OTD July 2, 1966, The Associated Press news crews captured silent film of the Newport Jazz Fest and its attendees. Six years earlier, a riot broke out and over 200 people were arrested. This footage is entitled "Record--but peaceful--crowds."

On July 3, 1969, the Newport Jazz Fest opened with an experimental lineup-- featuring rock & funk artists like Jeff Beck, Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa, Sly & the Family Stone, B.B. King, James Brown, and Led Zeppelin. Over 60,000 people attend the weekend events.

#OTD July 3, 1971, WPRI 12 news crews interviewed activist and musician @HarryBelafonte on his views on civil rights. Belafonte makes clear his commitment at this time was in electoral politics. Watch the footage below from the Rhode Island Historical Society archives. #OnThisDay #RhodeIsland